ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Special Economic Zones touch new heights in terms of performance in Exports, Investment and Employment
In various Special Economic Zones  across the country, 1096 Nos. of units has been registered during the last three years. The exports by these units during the last three years Zonal SEZ- wise and year-wise are as under:-
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Name of the Zone
|
|
Exports 
|
|
2018-19
|
|
2019-20
|
|
2020-21
|
|
1
|
|
MEPZ SEZ
|
|
186.6
|
|
1618.86
|
|
4396.43
|
|
2
|
|
Cochin SEZ
|
|
1249.24
|
|
7420.64
|
|
19431.83
|
|
3
|
|
Noida SEZ
|
|
1358.79
|
|
3763.67
|
|
6550.52
|
|
4
|
|
Kandla SEZ
|
|
51.4
|
|
4882.15
|
|
13435.92
|
|
5
|
|
Vishakhapatnam SEZ
|
|
272.82
|
|
3438.85
|
|
9992.88
|
|
6
|
|
SEEPZ SEZ
|
|
256.5
|
|
4914.23
|
|
14966.49
|
|
7
|
|
Falta SEZ
|
|
20.72
|
|
217.96
|
|
640.68
|
|
Total
|
|
3396
|
|
26256
|
|
69415
Total 336 numbers of units exited during the last three years. The reason of such winding of operations includes variations in International market conditions, Slowdown of orders, merger of units and COVID-19 pandemic etc.
SEZs set up under SEZ law have largely or generally met their objectives. SEZs have touched new heights in terms of performance in Exports, Investment and Employment viz. Exports of Rs. 22,840 Crore in 2005-06 has increased to Rs. 7,59,524 Crore in 2020-21; Investment of Rs. 4,035.51 Crore in 2005-06 has increased to Rs. 6,17,499 Crore  by 2020-21 andEmployment provided to 1,34,704 persons in 2005-06 has increased to 23,58,136 persons  in 2020-21. The fiscal concessions and duty benefits allowed to SEZs are inbuilt into the SEZ Act, 2005 and are consistent with the guidelines for setting up SEZs as the larger economic initiatives of the Government in general. However, there is no provision to grant additional fiscal incentives at present.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Women Entrepreneurship
The project ‘Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women ’ is being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit  Germany on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development .
The project aims to pilot incubation and acceleration programmes for women micro entrepreneurs, enabling them to start new businesses and scale up existing enterprises in the States of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and 8 North Eastern States of the country.
Under the title of ‘Her&Now’, the project envisages a film and media campaign to tell the stories of successful women entrepreneurs and to foster a positive mindset change on gender roles and expand women entrepreneurship.
The project targets to support 315 aspiring women entrepreneurs, from the selected states, to turn their ideas into a business in the seven-month incubation programme. During the six-month acceleration programme, 130 women with existing businesses were targeted to support to grow their enterprises.
A total of 725 women entrepreneurs have been supported under the project as against the targeted 445 women under both incubation and acceleration support programmes.
Region-wise details of number of women entrepreneurs covered under the incubation and acceleration support programmes in the project, are as follows:
|
|
Region
|
|
Total per state
|
|
NER – 8 states
|
|
233
|
|
Rajasthan 
|
|
105
|
|
Telangana 
|
|
109
|
|
Maharashtra 
|
|
120
|
|
Uttar Pradesh 
|
|
158
|
|
Total
|
|
725
This information was given by the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah and Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia reviews the facilities and infrastructure for major airports
The meeting aimed to address requirements arising out of fast growing domestic and international aviation mobility in the country
Directions given to develop and provide standards for quick, safe, and convenient travel experience of the travelers
Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other agencies have embarked upon a series of steps towards expanding & enhancing the facilities and infrastructure at major airports
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah and Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia reviewed the facilities and infrastructure for major airports. The meeting aimed to address requirements arising out of fast growing domestic and international aviation mobility in the country.
In the meeting directions given to develop and provide standards for quick, safe, and convenient travel experience of the travellers. Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other agencies have embarked upon a series of steps towards expanding & enhancing the facilities and infrastructure at major airports.
Union Home Secretary & other top officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation, IB, Bureau of Immigration , Bureau of Civil Aviation Security , Central Industrial Security Force  and Airport Authority of India  attended the meeting.
AYUSH
Status of medicinal plants conservation and development areas
The National Medicinal Plants Board , Ministry of AYUSH is implementing a “Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” since 2014-15. Under this scheme, the National Medicinal Plants Board has provided project based support to establish Twenty Four  Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas  in seven states. An amount of Rs. 940 Lacs was sanctioned and Rs. 635.99 Lacs released for establishing above mentioned Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas .
The role of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas  is in-situ conservation/protection of medicinal plants in their natural habitats. The long term benefit of MPCDAs is also to generate livelihood for Local/Tribal communities through sustainable utilization.
This information was given by Minister of State for Ayush Shri Mahendrabhai Munjapara in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people of Gujarat on Gujarat Diwas
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to people of Gujarat on their statehood day.
“ગુજરાતની જનતાને રાજ્યના સ્થાપના દિવસની ખૂબ ખૂબ શુભેચ્છાઓ ! ગુજરાતની પ્રજા પુરુષાર્થ માટે જાણીતી છે. ગુજરાતીઓએ ઘણાં બધાં ક્ષેત્રોમાં વિશેષ યોગદાન આપ્યું છે. ગુજરાત સદૈવ સિદ્ધિઓનાં નવાં શિખરો સર કરતું રહે એવી મનોકામના... જય જય ગરવી ગુજરાત !”, the PM said.
VRRK/ VJ
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Ministry of Women and Child Development
Scheme For Destitute Children
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Centrally sponsored ‘Child Protection Services  Scheme’ – Mission Vatsalya for rehabilitation of children in difficult circumstances including, orphan and destitute children. Under CPS scheme, financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Governments for providing services which include institutional care, non-institutional care, support for capacity building, human resources etc. Grants are also provided for setting up and maintenance of various types of Child Care Institutions  including children homes, observation homes, special homes, place of safety, open shelters etc. CCIs provide for age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. The execution of the scheme lies with the respective States/UTs.
Apart from this, as informed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights , the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SMWP  No.6/2021 In Re Children in Street Situations has taken suo-moto cognizance of the issue of children in street situations. The State/UT-wise data with regard to children in street situations on the Bal Swaraj Portal of NCPCR as on 11.01.2022 is at Annexure-I.
The Ministry has taken various measures and regularly engaged with all State/UTs to ensure continued and uninterrupted delivery of services and also for effective implementation of the schemes. Various guidelines and advisories have been shared with the States/ UTs to keep operational and available the institutions and facilities run under different schemes.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Union Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur meets CEO of FIFA Foundation Youri Djorkaeff
Promoting football at grassroots level through expansion of events and tournaments discussed
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Thakur met CEO of FIFA Foundation Youri Djorkaeff today in New Delhi.
During the meet they discussed how football could be encouraged at the grassroots level and expanded with more tournaments and events. Shri Thakur said that there is a growing interest in Sports in India following the recent success at the Olympic Games in Tokyo; PM Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to build a sporting culture has also found a new momentum in recent weeks.
Mr. Youri also showed Mr Thakur a few of his legendary football tricks, wherein Shri Thakur also chipped in with his dribbling skills.
Ministry of Railways
Railways to provide a World Class Wrestling academy at Kishanganj, Delhi at an approximate cost of Rs. 30.76 crores
This academy, exclusively for wrestling, will be the biggest in the country equipped with advance training facilities
In line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister to provide the best sports facilities to sportspersons, Hon’ble Minister of Railways had committed Indian Railways wrestlers to provide the state-of-art wrestling academy at the earliest. In order to fulfill the commitment to provide a World Class Wrestling academy in Railways, a work has been sanctioned to establish the same at Kishanganj, Delhi at an approximate cost of Rs. 30.76 crores and will be another feather in the Cap of Railways.
This academy, exclusively for wrestling, will be the biggest in the country equipped with advance training facilities. This academy will provide opportunity to many budding wrestlers to become champions in the times to come.
Indian Railways have played a paramount role in promoting wrestling in India and most of the elite wrestlers are from Railways. Most of the medals won by India in wrestling in Olympics were from Indian Railways i.e. Sh. Sushil , Ms. Sakshi Malik , Sh. Ravi Kumar & Sh. Bajrang .
In recently concluded Tokyo Olympic 2020, the performance of Indian Railways  sportspersons have been phenomenal and out of 7 medals won by India 3 Individual medals by Ms. Mirabai Chanu , Sh. Ravi Kumar , Sh. Bajrang  and in Bronze medallist Indian Hockey Men team, two players were from IR.
Indian Railway is contributing in promotion of sports through Railway Sports Promotion Board  in Country, in a big way. Railways have supported the sizable number of sportspersons by giving them job security with various incentives. As on date more than 9000 sportspersons are on roll in 29 game disciplines in Indian Railways. Railway sportspersons have brought laurels for the country in all mega sports events like Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games etc. Railways sportspersons have been honoured with 27 Padamshree, 176 Arjuna, 12 Dhyanchand, 14 Dronacharya and 9 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards for their outstanding sports achievements.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Increasing Problem of Stubble Burning
To support the efforts of the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ is being implemented from 2018-19. Under this scheme financial assistance @ 50% of the cost of machinery is provided to the farmers for purchase of crop residue management machinery and financial assistance @ 80% of the project cost is provided to the Cooperative Societies of Farmers, Farmers Producers Organization  and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres of crop residue management machinery. During the period from 2018-19 to 2022-23, funds amounting to Rs. 3,138.17 crores have been released for these States and more than 39,000 Custom Hiring Centres have been established and more than 2.30 lakh crop residue management machines have been supplied to these CHCs and individual farmers of these four States.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial consortium of fungal species  for rapid decomposition of paddy straw. Use of this consortium accelerates process of paddy straw decomposition in the field itself. The Ministry of Power has brought “Revised Policy for Biomass Utilization for power generation Through Co–firing in Coal based Power Plants” which mandates co-firing of 5-7 % of suitable biomass pellets along with coal in coal based power plants.The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified Bioenergy Programme which promote the conversion of biomass and other waste material into other useful forms of energy. The Oil Central Public Enterprises have set up Second Generation  ethanol bio-refineries for production of ethanol using agricultural crop residue as feedstock. Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas involves extracting economic value from bio-mass/waste including rice straw to generate Compressed Bio-Gas  as an alternative, green transport fuel. In December 2022, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has constituted a committee to examine the issues of paddy straw collection, storage, densification and transport to the various units utilizing the paddy straw and suggest solutions for establishing supply chain at appropriate locations.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
196.32 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 79,313
Active cases stand at 0.18%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.61%
7,293 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
4,27,15,193
9,923 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
85.85 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 3,88,641 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Wheat Export
As per Foreign Trade Policy, export of wheat is under ‘Free’ category and therefore no licence / Authorisation is required from Government for its export. The exporters from India have exported wheat in view of the rising global demand. The Government does not export wheat except as humanitarian aid-in-grant form to the deserving countries.
Export of wheat during 2020-21 and 2021-22  is given below in a tabular statement:
Qty in Lakh Metric Tonne and Value in USD million
|
|
2020-21
|
|
2021-22 
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Qty
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|
Value
|
|
Qty
|
|
Value
|
|
21.55
|
|
567.93
|
|
70.35
|
|
2035.09
Export of all items including wheat would depend on various factors such as domestic production / consumption, surplus for exports, global scenario and competitive pricing. Therefore, it is difficult to quantify the surplus for exports in the ensuing Rabi season.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM reviews status of oxygen availability to ensure adequate supply
PM Narendra Modi took a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country. Inputs from ministries like Health, DPIIT, Steel, Road Transport, etc were also shared with the PM. PM stressed that it is important to ensure synergy across ministries & state governments.
PM Modi also took a detailed review of current situation of oxygen supply and projected use in the coming 15 days across 12 high burden states . An overview of district level situation in these states was presented to the PM.
PM was informed that the Centre and States are in regular contact and estimates for projected demand have been shared with states as on 20th April, 25th April & 30th April. Accordingly, 4,880 MT, 5,619 MT and 6,593 MT have been allocated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand as on 20th April, 25th April and 30th April, respectively.
PM was briefed about production capacity in the country to meet the rising demand. PM suggested to increase oxygen production as per capacity of each plant. It was discussed that surplus stocks of oxygen supply in steel plants are being offered from medical use.
PM urged officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the country. The Government has exempted all interstate movement of oxygen tankers from registration of permits to enable easier movement. PM was informed that States and transporters have been asked to ensure tankers move round the clock with drivers working in shifts to ensure faster turnaround and adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand. Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted 24 hour working with necessary safeguards. The Government is allowing Industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging. Similarly nitrogen and argon tankers will be automatically allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to overcome the potential shortage of tankers.
Officers also briefed the PM about the efforts being made to import medical grade oxygen.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Nominations for Padma Awards-2024 open till 15th September, 2023
Online nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards 2024 to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2024 have opened on 1st May 2023. The last date for nominations for Padma Awards is 15th September, 2023. The nominations/recommendations for Padma Awards will be received online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal .
The Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country. Instituted in 1954, these Awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year. The award seeks to recognize ‘work of distinction’ and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields/disciplines, such as, Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except Doctors and Scientists, are not eligible for Padma Awards.
The Government is committed to transform Padma Awards into “People’s Padma”. All citizens are, therefore, requested to make nominations/recommendations, including self nomination. Concerted efforts may be made to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognized from amongst women, weaker sections of the society, SCs & STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to the society.
The nominations/recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the above said Portal, including a citation in narrative form , clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements/service of the person recommended in her/his respective field/discipline.
Details in this regard are also available under the heading 'Awards and Medals' on the website of Ministry of Home Affairs  and on the Padma Awards Portal . The statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the website with the link https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx .
Ministry of Defence
Lt Gen Ajai Singh takes over as 16th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command
Lt Gen Ajai Singh assumed charge as the 16th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command  on June 01, 2021. The Andaman and Nicobar Command  is the only tri-service theatre command of the Armed Forces, based at Port Blair.A fifth generation Army as well as Cavalry/Armoured Corps officer, with family service of over 162 years since September 13, 1858, Lt Gen Ajai Singh is an alumnus of The Lawrence School, Sanawar and NDA & IMA. He was commissioned in December 1983 into 81 Armoured Regiment, a Regiment raised by his late father.
The General officer has had the privilege of tenanting various appointments across all six of the Army’s geographical Commands as well as at the Army Training Command. He was an Instructor of Tank Gunnery & Tactics at the Armoured Corps Centre & School and served at important assignments at the Army HQ, HQ Integrated Defence Staff  as well as with the United Nations as a Military Observer at Angola.
Lt Gen Ajai Singh also undertook volunteer tenures for counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley and in the North East, where he was posted at a Mountain Division on the border. As a Major with over 16 years of service, the General officer had volunteered for a tenure on the Siachen Glacier and was posted to a Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, with whom he commanded a Rifle Company in Operations VIJAY  and MEGHDOOT  and received the Army Chief’s Commendation for gallantry.
The General officer also held sensitive posts at the Army HQ as the Additional DG at the Military Operations Directorate and was DG, Financial Planning and DG, Military Training. Other than a Rifle Company in active operations, Lt Gen Ajai Singh commanded an Armoured Regiment, Brigade & Division and a Corps deployed on the border in Punjab and Rajasthan.He has attended numerous prestigious military courses as well as mountaineering courses at the High-Altitude Warfare School and tank gunnery &technology courses. Lt Gen Ajai Singh was also selected to attend a UN Senior Mission Leader Course at Indonesia as well as the Royal College of Defence Studies  Course at the UK.
Lt Gen Ajai Singh was an active part of flood relief efforts in Uttarakhand in 2013, Uttar Pradesh&Bihar in 2017 and Kerala in 2018 as well as the of Government’s Covid amelioration efforts.
ABB/Nampi/DK/Savvy/ADA
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Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people on Parsi New Year
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Parsi New Year.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Greetings on Parsi New Year. May the coming year be filled with joy, prosperity and good health. Navroz Mubarak!"
Ministry of Defence
CURTAIN RAISER - NAVAL INVESTITURE CEREMONY 2022 TO BE HELD AT KOCHI ON 04 MAY 22
The Naval Investiture Ceremony - 2022 to felicitate Naval personnel who have demonstrated gallant acts, leadership, professional achievements and distinguished service of high order will be held at Naval Base, Kochi on 04 May 22. Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff  on behalf of the President of India, will confer the Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards to the recipients during the investiture ceremony.
During the ceremony, 31 awardees including 06 Nao Sena Medals , 08 Nao Sena Medals , 17 Vishisht Seva Medals will be presented with medals. In addition, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Lt VK Jain Memorial Gold Medal, Capt Ravi Dhir Memorial Gold Medal, CNS Trophy for best Green Practice and Unit Citations will also be presented.
The ceremony will be witnessed by the spouses and families of awardees as well as by senior dignitaries of the Indian Navy.
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VM/PS 42/22
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